“Today I appreciate seeing muscular bodies”

Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron had a lot to contend with in their first season together, one in which they managed to become Olympic, World and European Champions in the dance competition. The world title was won on Saturday evening in Prague.

She was repeatedly asked about her former on-ice partner Nikolaj Sorensen, who is her life partner and was suspended, then reinstated, due to allegations of sexual abuse.

Cizeron had to face questions about Gabriella Papadakis, his former partner, with whom he won an Olympic, five world and five European titles. She described him in her book as “controlling, demanding” and “critical”.

Then, at the Olympics, they were accused of winning the Olympic title in the dance event with the help of a referee from France.

Laurence Fournier Beaudry had to face all these struggles. But she was hardened to a more difficult battle. Figure skating began when the body standard was extremely demanding.

“I never looked like the ideal of that era, which privileged extremely slim, almost fragile dancers. But our brain works in such a way that we forget. I see this in my cognitive neuroscience studies: we only remember what we want to remember. Now, it is certain that at puberty we are searching for our identity, we are trying to identify with someone, with something. And when we are criticized, many doubts arise”she told L'Equipe.

Laurence Fournier Beaudry: “They Don't Want to Hurt You”

As he wanted to assert himself at the highest level, he was constantly reminded of the constraints that this would entail. “Whether it's the people close to you or the coaches, they don't want to hurt you or destroy you mentally, but a pressure slowly overwhelms you. It doesn't just come from the outside. The worst is the one you impose on yourself through the dialogues you have with yourself every day and which throw you into a state of despair. You don't feel like talking about it anymore so you don't hear about it anymore,” she emphasized.

Guillaume Cizeron, then only her best friend, helped her accept herself. She had complexes, she hated her body so much that in her teens she ended up suffering from anorexia and bulimia. “Seeing someone like Laurence, who is undeniably beautiful both on and off the ice, really educates us on what beauty actually is.” said Cizeron. Laurence added: “Guillaume is very sensitive, I often had the opportunity to feel how much he wanted to protect me from criticism.”

Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron at the end of the short program PHOTO Imago Images

Fournier Beaudry was finally able to escape this vicious circle, this desire to please his coaches and then-partner at any cost. “We are carried by our partners, we want to be energetic in the air, able to execute the program without tiring, without the other having to drag us on the ice. For me, the turning point came when I started dating Nik and opening up to him. I think he became aware of what I was eating, the sacrifices I was making, the intense exercises I was always imposing on myself. About the psychological impact it had on me, on my self-esteemLaurence also said.

Laurence Fournier Beaudry: “I agree to show this vulnerability only this year”

He was afraid of this unhealthy relationship he had established between excessively frugal meals and an almost absurd multiplication of training. “However, I'm convinced that being muscular protected my joints when I had to deal with falls or injuries,” the skater surmised.

“At one point, I told myself that I would never look like the ideal, but that I could be the best version of me.” A former gymnast, she swam a lot, was fond of running, dedicated herself to cycling and, of course, practiced triathlon as a family hobby. He calmed down watching dancers like American Madison Hubbell, bronze medalist at the 2022 Olympics alongside Zachary Donohue.

“Today, I appreciate seeing bodies that are muscular yet capable of beautiful lines and grace. I enjoyed developing mine. But I admit that I accept to show this vulnerability only this year”, pointed out the one who found the courage to talk about the less glamorous side of figure skating.

Gold medal winners at the World Championships in Prague

• Female – Kaori Sakamoto (Japan)

• Male -Ilia Malinin (USA)

• Pairs – Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin (Germany)

• Dance – Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron (France)